The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-22

4
Norlington Farm, and it had been M
only home now for nearly seven years
all of which time William Maplesor
had lived as my uncle's steward anC
helper under the same roof
1t has been a hard. self-denying life
for him, perhaps; but for me-or rather
for his love for me-he would never
have borne it. Till latterly the hard ole
man had never discovered our love
and when he had there was no more
peace for us under his roof
| He had ragged and stormed, declaring
that no niece of his should marry Will
lam Mapleson, on pain of disinherit
ance.
Mine was always a weak, timid ma
ture. Perhaps some women q was nc
longer a young girl; my thirtieth birth.
day had come and gomez would have
actively resented his tyranny and as
serted their individual rights; I coulj
not. Twas in his power; forwhen my
parents died he had taken me in, 9
penniless girl. and had from that time
given me. in his particular hard way,
all that needed to live-not but some
would have felt they fully earned such
keep.
Iscarcely ever looked at it in that
way.
l had been weak and helpless, alone
in the world, not very strong in health,
when he had come to my fathers
funeral; and after paying all expenses,
had simply said: Now go and pack
up your kit. You must come with me
to Norlington Farm. Can't say, I'm
sure, what old Betty will say; but there s
nothing else, as see, to be done. Re-
member. my girl. It's not lady's life !
am offering you; but [ suppose you are
not too fine lady to know what work
means?"
':lf had been then, all was corrected
by now. During these seven years ]
have worked hard and lived hard.
Yet there are those who say that old
Peter Glennie is worth half million of
money.
My golden week of happiness is gone;
but although William is gone, l am
strangely content
l do not regret the step have taken.
Since the morning after my marriage
my uncle had been better and quieter.
Old Mr.. Baines. the lawyer. had been
with him full hour that morning, and
old Jenkyns had been called into his
room to sign his narne to some docu-
ment. together with the hired nurse
He is a miserable old man." she
said to me the other day. 81 suppose
it's his will we signed. What grudge
he seems to have against marriage.
He growls continually, even in his sleep.
about fools getting marriedr'
"Ah!' l said: she has never mar
ried."
NO" she laughed. 81 should not
say any one was the loser by that,
either"
He had called her at this moment,
and l was left alone to overhear a con-
versation between old Jenkyns and
Betty, who, being both deaf. were talk
ing over the same matter in the kitchen.
"Ah, well, Betty, it's hard day for
the farm when Mr.. William goes away;
and how'll the old master do wi a new
steward ut his tonne O. life. wonder?"
He knows what he's about, never
you fear. Do'ee think for moment
as how he don't know a letting him 60
is the only way O. preventin' mar
riage between he and Miss Norah? Ha!
ha! har'
AS hear her cunning old laugh at
my expense sit hugging my love to
my heart.
Old Betty always owed me a grudge
for coming to Norlington Farm,
although she had been compelled to
show me ordinary civility.
How little she knew we were mar
ried only yesterday, under her very
nose, as it were.
So far had deceived him and the
few other people l knew-deceived him
through his own hardness; for so far
as l was concerned l would have told
him, only l knew and my husband
knew that any sudden shock would in
all probability kill him.
We should have parted and kept true
faith with each other if my strength
had not been weakened when that good
offer to go to Canada had come so sud-
denly. Then he had prayed me to
marry him before he started. so that
if my uncle died l might at once come
out to him as his wife.
And now William was gone. The
ship had sailed and 1 was alone; but
happier far than as if had denied him
his prayer.
Since the day after my marriage,
when Mr. Baines had been with my un-
H. l. Il